106 Report of Experiments on the Growth of Barley, 
in any of the 20 years. In 3 of the selected cases tlie produce 
exceeded 60 bushels of dressed corn, and 2 tons of straw, per 
acre. The season of 1854 was, therefore, one of remarkable 
productiveness ; and it was remarkable for yielding such large 
crops under climatal conditions which the mere meteorological 
registry did not indicate to be peculiarly favourable. The result 
would appear to have been owing, as in the also remarkable 
season of 1863, to a continuity of unchecked growth, rather than 
to any special aptitude for unusual luxuriance at particular 
periods. Lastly, although the quantity of grain per acre was very 
large, the proportion of corn to straw was considerably below the 
average. It is probable, indeed, that the great yield was due to 
favourable conditions of season at the time of seed-forming, 
acting upon a great bulk of plant, and not to conditions favourable 
to seeding tendency through any lengthened period of growth. 
Fourth Season, 1855. 
The winter of 1854-55 was generally fine and mild up to the 
middle of January. Then came some frosts and deep snow ; and 
the frost, with occasional snow, rain, and thaw, lasted, with more 
or less severity, through February and March, The beginning 
and end of April were also cold and frosty, and the month was 
more or less windy throughout, with dry east winds at the close. 
May and June were for the most part very cold and dry, with 
the exception of a short interval in the middle of that period, 
and the end of June, which was very hot ; July was very variable, 
with many fine hot days, but with severe thunderstorms, and, 
upon the whole, a great excess of rain. The beginning of 
August was also wet, but the remainder of the month was fine ; 
September also was fine, but cool. In June, August, and Sep- 
tember, both the dew point and the degree of humidity of the 
atmosphere ranged low, but in July both were somewhat in 
excess of the average. 
Thus, the latter part of the winter, and the early spring, were 
extremely severe ; the remainder of the spring and the early 
summer cold and dry ; July was very variable, with a great 
deal of rain, and a rather humid atmosphere ; but the harvest 
period was more favourable. 
With these characters of season, the wheat crop of 1855 was 
reported to be much less abundant than that of 1854 ; in quantity 
about, or but little over, an average — in quality very various, 
and in many cases much damaged. Barley was reported to be 
abundant, but damaged, yielding a bad malting sample. 
In the experimental wheat field, the season of 1855 was one of 
